Business & Economy

Conference at USC helps American companies do business in Asia

Hundreds of American companies have sent representatives to USC for a conference Monday in order to better their business practices in Pacific Rim countries.

USC’s Marshall Center for International Business has hosted an annual Asia Pacific Business Outlook conference for 25 years.

Director Richard Drobnick says the top commercial officers from American embassies in China, Japan, India and Australia all plan to participate, bringing along chief executives from American companies doing business in those countries.

"It’s not just data," said Drobnick. "It’s really personal insight [...] because these economies are changing so rapidly, 20 percent of our customers are repeat business. So, every year, 20 percent were there last year or the year before."

Drobnick says the conference attracts companies of all sizes — from Big Three automakers to small gourmet food purveyors.